Illuminating attachment for pens or pencils



C. M. EAST. ILLUMINATING ATTACHMENT FOR PENS 0R PENCILS.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 17, I919.

2 SHEETS-SHEET I- Patented May 25, 1920.

C. M. EAST.

TTACHMENT FOR PENS OR PENCILS.

ATION FILED MAY I7, 1919.

ILLUMINAT UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES M. EAST/OF BOYERTOWN',

PENNSYLVANIA.

ILLUMINATING ATTACHMENT FOR PENS OR PENGILS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 25, 1920.

Application filed May 17, 1919. Serial No. 297,882.

clear, and exact description of the invention,

such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to inake and use thesame.

This invention relates to improvements in illuminating attachments for pens or pencils and has for one of its objects the provision of means, whereby the object being written on can be illuminated so as to render writing in the dark comparatively easy.

Another object of this invention is the provision of means for automatically closing and breaking the electric circuit to the illuminating lamp according to the position the pen or pencil is occupying so that on positioning the pen or pencil in a writing position, the lamp will be illuminated and when carried in the pocket or held while not in use, the circuit will be broken, extinguishing the lamp, thus rendering a saving to the current of the battery and also providing a device which will at all times be ready to operate as soon as the pen or pencil is brought into writing position.

A further object of this invention is the provision of an illuminating attachment for pens or pencils of the above stated character, which shall be simple, durable and eilicient, and which may be manufactured and sold at a comparatively low cost.

With these and other objects in view as will become more apparent as the description proceeds, the invention consists in certain novel features of construction, combination, and arrangement of parts as will be hereinafter more fully described and claimed.

For a complete understanding of my invention, reference is to be had to the following description and accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a side elevation of an illuminating attachment for pens or pencils constructed in accordance with my invention,

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view of the same, illustrating the pen or pencil in writing position with the circuit closed to the illuminating lamp,

Fig. 3 is a sectional view of an insulating housing for the automatic circuit closer,

Fig. 4 is a detail View of the clip for holding the electric conductors taut to the pen or pencil,

Fig. 5 is adetail vertical sectional view of an electric plug,

Fig. 6 is a vertical sectional View of the electrical source.

Referring in detail to the drawings, the numeral 1 indicates a cylindrical casing having each end open and having secured to the side thereof a clip 2 adapted to grip or surround a pen or pencil adjacent its writing end. The clip 2 is preferably constructed from sheet metal being curved to conform to the contour of the pen or pencil, so that the same will readily grip the pen or pencil when applied thereto for holding the casing 1 against accidental movement thereon, and which provides a construction wherein the casing can be removed from the pen or pencil when desired.

One end of the casing 1 or the end that is adjacent to the writing end of the pen or pencil is internally screw threaded to receive the screw threaded end of an electric lamp 3 and which is partially surrounded by a hood or reflector carried by one end of the casing 1 and which is adapted to direct the rays of light from the electric lamp downwardly upon the Writing end of the pen or pencil when the same is held in a writing position so that the article which is being written upon will be eiiiciently illuminated.

An insulating block 5 is located centrally within the casing 1 and carries a contact plate 6 which has formed thereon a stem 7 extending through the insulating block 5. The stem 7 has formed thereon a contact 8 which is adapted to abut the electric lamp 3 which is of the single contact type. plate 6 is spaced from the wall of the casing 1 by an insulation strip 7 and has connected thereto an electrical conductor 9 that extends through an opening 10 in a removable cap 11 carried at the end of the casing 1. A conductor 12 is connected to the casing 1 and extends through the opening 10 of the cap 11 along with the conductor 9 and said conductors are connected to the plug 13. The plug 13 is provided with a removable cap 14 having an opening to permit the conductors to extend ,therethrough for attachment with the contacts thereof.

The plug 13 is of the single contact type and is adapted to be threaded into a corresponding socket 15 of a battery casing 16. The battery casing 16 has located therein dry cells or electric batteries 17 of well known type and which are adapted to contact with the plug so that the conductors 9 and 12 will be charged with electricity.

An insulating housing 18 is located within the casing and is provided with a cut-outportion 19 forming a seat for a contact ball 20. The cut-out portion besides forming a seat for the ball 20 also forms projecting arms'21 and 22. The projecting arm 21 ex-' tends into close proximity to'the plate 6 to prevent the ball from engaging the casing 1 between its end and the plate 6, while the projecting arm 22 is spaced from said plate 6 so as to permit the ball-to engage the plate 6 and when in this position completes an electric circuit to the electric lamp 3. The

. end of the arm 22 is cut away or beveled so as'to permit the ball 20 to readily roll into and out of the housing 18.

When the pencil or pen having my invention applied thereto is inclined in a writing position, the ball moves into engagement with the plate 6 and the'plate 6 completing the electric circuit to the lamp, thus illuminating the writing end of the pen or pencil.

When the pen or pencil is placed within a pocket or held in anupwardly inclined powill permit the use of the pen or pencil within one hand at a distance foreign to the pocket in which the battery is located.

When not desiring to use the device for illuminating pens or pencils the electric lamp 3 may be removed from the casing 1 and hood 4 and placed within the socket 15 by removing the plug 14 so that the device then can be used as a hand lam While I have shown and descr bed the preferred embodiment of my invention, it will be understood that minor changes in construction, combination, and arrangement of parts may be made, without departing from the spirit and scope of the inventlon as claimed.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is An illuminating attachment forpensor pencils comprising a casing, means detachably securing the casing to the writing end of a pen or-pencil, an insulating block with- 1n said casing, a contact plate carried by said insulating block, an electric lamp secured to the casing and grounded thereto and connected to the plate, a cap secured to said casing and having an opening, a housing in said casing and being cut away to form a seat and projecting arms, one of said projecting arms extending in close proximity the plate, a second plate in the housing and insulated therefrom, a conductor secured to the second plate and extending through the opening of the cap, a conductor secured to the casing and extending through the opening of the cap, a plug secured to the conductors, an electrical source connected to the plug, and a ball lo cated within the housing and adapted to engage the plates when the pen. or pencil is placed in writing position to complete the electric circuit to the electric lamp.

In testimony whereof I ailix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

CHARLES M. EAST.

Witnesses: WM. H.'Fox,

MARY H. Fox. 

